Peach tree named ‘Island Prince’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree which is somewhat similar to the ‘Island King’ peach tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,199) from which it is a sport, but from which it is distinguished by producing a later ripening fruit which are mature approximately ten to fourteen days after the fruit produced by the ‘Island King’ peach tree.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention refers to a new variety of peach tree which willhereinafter be denominated as the ‘Island Prince’ peach tree whichproduces clingstone fruit which are mature for commercial harvesting andshipment approximately May 8-10 in a normal growing year in the SanJoaquin Valley of Central California as an early fresh market peach witha good red blush coloration.

In the development of new commercial varieties of fruit specificcharacteristics places a premium on those varieties, which are early orlate maturing, in the growing season. However, many such varieties havesmall size, lack of flavor, or coloration. In some instances there areother undesirable characteristics that decrease the commercial success.In order for a fruit to be a commercial success it must possess thosecharacteristics of good size, good color, and good flavor. At the sametime the date of maturity must be separate or different than othersimilar fruit. This new invention meets all of the aforementionedcriteria and therefore is of commercial appeal to the consumer.

ORGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present variety of peach tree was discovered by the inventor in his4-acre orchard of ‘Island King’ peach trees (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,199)which is located near Kingsburg, Calif. The inventor discovered it as asport of the ‘Island King’ peach tree in 1997. The new variety was firstasexually reproduced by the inventor in 1997 by bud grafting two treeson Nemaguard Rootstock in the orchard of orgin. The asexually reproducedtrees first bore fruit of the new variety in May 1998. The inventorcarefully compared the asexually reproduced trees with the parent sport,including the fruit thereof and the parent as well as the progeny is inall respects identical.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The ‘Island Prince’ peach is characterized by producing an extra largeclingstone fruit which has good red blush coloration and is ripe forcommercial harvesting and shipment approximately May 8 to May 10 in theSan Joaquin Valley of Central California. The new variety is mostsimilar to ‘Island King’ peach tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,199) fromwhich it is a sport but from which is distinguishable in that it ripensten to fourteen days later than the fruit of ‘Island King’ peach treeand in that the fruit is about one-third again larger in size than thatof the ‘Island King’ peach tree. The fruit of this new variety possessesa very good flavor as well as aroma which is greatly acceptable for anearly ripening variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph showing fruit and foliageof the new variety. The view on the left side of the photograph displaysa fruit cut in half showing the pit and the flesh on the upper half andthe pit well and the flesh on the bottom half. In the center is thefruit showing the distal end and the suture, while on the upper right isa fruit showing a side view with the cheek surface. The fruit on thebottom right shows the stem end of the fruit. The top of the photographshows the foliage typical of this variety of peach tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological description of this newand distinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observedunder the ecological conditions prevailing in the orchard or originwhich is located near Kingsburg, Calif. in the San Joaquin Valley ofCentral California. All major color code designations are by referenceto the Dictionary of Color by Maerz & Paul, First Edition 1930. Commoncolor names are also occasionally employed.

TREE

Size: Tree is similar in size and growth habit to ‘Island King’ U.S.Plant Pat. No. 9,199 — medium size for peaches.

Vigor: Moderate at 4th year of growth.

Figure (form): Upright and spreading with open vase system of training.Productivity is very good for tree in fourth year of growth. Regularityof bearing appears to be regular (i.e., every year, not in alternateyears).

Trunk size:

Medium (diameter 9″,10″ above soil level).—Moderately rough.

Color.—Grey 31 (15-C-6).

Lenticels.—Oval form, medium, and from 4-7 mm (0.16-0.28 inch) inlength. Color — Light Brown (7-A-10). Number — many.

Branches:

Size.—Medium.

Surface texture.—Slightly rough. a. Mature — Slightly Rough b. Immature— Smooth Color Code (one year or older), Chestnut Brownstone (7-E-10).Color Code (immature), Calliste Green (19-L-6).

Three to four scaffold with lateral branches, at this stage of growth,being develop fruit wood and allow maximum sunlight for fruit colors.Diameter of scaffold branches taken at about two feet above soil levelis five to six inches in circumference.

LEAVES

Size: Medium to large.

Length: 155 mm-165mm (6.10-6.50 inch).

Width: 38 mm-41 mm (1.50-1.61 inch). Shape: Lanceolate, leaf tipacuminate. Texture: Smooth. Color code:

Upwardly disposed surface (upper side).—Mt. Vernon Green (23-J-8).

Downwardly disposed surface (underside).—Near Mignard Green (21-I-6).

Marginal form: Crenate.

Leaf vein:

Color code.—Piquant green (20-K-6).

Thickness.—1½ mm (0.06 inch).

Glandular characteristics: Reniform — alternate.

Color.—Crysolite green (19-K-3).

Size.—2 mm.

Number.—Two.

Petiole:

Size.—Medium.

Length.—10-11 mm (0.37-0.43 inch).

Diameter.—2 mm (0.08 inch).

Color code.—Piquant green (20-K-6).

FLOWERS

Flower buds: Hardy under typical central San Joaquin Valley climatecondition.

Size.—Dormant buds of average size.

Length.—10.13 mm (0.406 inch).

Form.—Conic and slightly appressed to the bearing wood.

Bud scales:

Color.—Rosetone (6-C-9) and very pubescent on surface.

Generally: Showy type.

Date of bloom: 5-10% as of Feb. 24, 2000, 100% bloom on Mar. 8, 2000,comparable to date of parent ‘Island King’, pp #9,199.

Size: Generally medium to large.

Diameter: When fully expanded − 32 mm (1.26 inch) to 40 mm (1.51 inch).

Bloom quality: Abundant.

No fragrance:

Petals:

Size.—Medium to large. Length — 15 mm (0.59 inch) to 18 mm (0.71 inch).Width — 12 mm (0.47 inch) to 15 mm (0.59 inch).

Form.—Broadly ovate.

Number.—Five.

Color.—From light pink (1-C-3) to (1-E-2) with older petals.

Petal claws.—Broadly truncate. Width — 1 mm (0.254 inch). Length — 1.5mm (0.59 inch).

Petal margins.—Moderately undulated with somewhat rounded margins.

Flower pedicel.—Very short 2-3 mm (0.079 inch-0.12 inch). Color —Calliste Green (19-L-6). Surface — glabros. Diameter — 1-2 mm.

Sepals:

Surface.—Pubescent.

Size.—Medium to large.

Form.—Broadly ovate.

Color.—Maroon (7-H-4).

Number.—Five.

Calyx: Color Green (18-K-7) at base and Maroon (7-H-4) near base ofsepals.

Anthers:

Size.—Average.

Color.—50 — red near dianthe. On dorsal side and edges +10F4. (Palechamois) on ventral side.

Stamen: 10-12 mm (0.039-0.47 inch).

Number.—18-24.

Filament: Color very light pink (1-D-1).

Pistil:

Length.—Average 18 mm.

Number.—One.

Color.—Reed Green (19-D-2).

Surface.—Pubescent.

FRUIT

Date of maturity: May 8-10 in a normal year.

Size:

Diameter axial plane.—73-83 mm (2.87-3.27 inch with 64% of the largersize).

Transverse in suture plane.—62-67 mm (2.44-2.67 inches).

Transverse at rt. angle to suture plane.—71-77 mm (2.80-3.03 inches).

Form: Uniform.

Symmetrical or asymmetrical.—Shape of fruit is slightly asymmetrical.

Suture: Shallow but with distinct Pinard Yellow (9-J-2) coloration frombase to apex.

Ventral surface: Uneven.

Stem cavity:

Width.—14-15 mm (0.55-0.59 inch).

Depth.—9-10 mm (0.35-0.39 inch).

Length.—16-18 mm (0.63-0.71 inch).

Shape.—Oval.

Stem: Short.

Diameter.—4-8 mm (0.16-0.2 inch).

Apex: Slightly Rounded.

Pistil point: Oblique.

Skin: Thickness normal for peach, slightly pubescent.

Texture: Firm.

Tendency: None observed.

Color code:

Blush color.—Peony, Burmese Ruby (7-H-6).

Ground color.—Varies over 50% at axis, Sunset (10-C-4).

Flesh color.—Jonquil (9-J-5).

Color at surface of pit cavity.—Jonquil (9-J-5).

Color of pit well.—Jonquil (9-J-5).

Juice production: Moderate.

Flavor: Very good to excellent.

Aroma: Good.

Texture: Firm.

Fibers:

Number.—Few.

Texture.—Firm.

Ripening: Even.

Eating quality: Very good to excellent.

Stone:

Attachment.—Clingstone.

Fibers.—Numerous, Short, SI. Thick.

Size.—Medium. Length — 35-40 mm (1.38-1.5 inch). Width — 26-28 mm(1.02-1.1 inch). Diameter — 18-20 mm (0.71 -0.74 inch).

Form: Ovate.

Apex: Sharply acute.

Color code, when dry: Near Toast (38-E-8).

Base: Slightly rounded.

Sides: Unequal.

Texture: Pitted.

Ridges: On both sides of stone with ventral edge relatively narrow.

Tendency to split: Only one in six fruit had split pits. None evidentexternally.

Use: Fresh market.

Shipping and quality: Very good.

Like most peach trees, the new variety has winter hardiness, and is notsusceptible to damage during the dormant season. The fruit and foliageof the new variety do not evidence any particular susceptibilty to heat.

The above description of this new variety of peach tree is based on thegrowing conditions prevailing near Kingsburg, Calif. in the Central SanJoaquin Valley of California, variations of the usual magnitude andcharacteristics may occur due to change in cultural factors, includingirrigation, fertilization, primary climatic changes, et al.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree asdescribed and illustrated which is somewhat similar to ‘Island King’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,199, from which is a bud sport but from which itis distinguished by producing fruit that ripens ten to fourteen daysafter ‘Island King’ with good exterior coloration and very good eatingquality which are mature for commercial harvesting and shipmentapproximately May 8 to 10 in a normal year.